Topfield CRC-1410 Lost recordings

[Anie]

It's good to know that there's still some hope even if I don't manage with FireZilla.

I won't try it today because it's getting late but I'll let you know how it all goes tomorrow (or later). I just want everyone to know I'm grateful for every bit of advice.

[keith_leitch]

This is, indeed, the best place in the world to get such advice. I should have thought to recommend Filezilla over in the Australian forum.

[Anie]

On the oztoppy forum, DeltaMikeCharlie adviced me to copy one of my own comments here (especially for jkIT, I believe):

Before my own recordings got lost, (maybe it was a day before even) I got message on the tv screen after opening my PVR. I can't remember exactly what it was (I should have taken a photograph of it) but it was something like "Do you want to check [something]?" or "Do you want to format...?" I answered 'no' twice and then the message didn't appear again.

I know this is vague, and maybe not helpful, because I can't remember it correctly. I panicked a little then because I realised something was going wrong. I answered 'no' although I didn't understand the question because I thought that at least then the machine won't start doing anything.

At that point I had used almost all of free recording space.

[jkIT]

I think, it was the right decision to answer with no. If nothing else helps, you can format later on anyway.

The best way for now would be to get Networking & Filezilla to work.

[Anie]

@ FireBird
I tried your instructions but my Toppy doesn't show this view:

Network Setting
- IP Setting
- Web Server
- FTP Server
- User Info

There is only IP Setting but no FTP Server, so I cannot choose Enable it.

I tried FireZilla anyway, and I got 'connection formed, waiting for welcoming message...' (sorry, translation is not perfect, but maybe you get what I mean).
But then it said "connection failed because it wasn't used for 20 seconds".

Maybe that's because I couldn't find the place to enbale FTP Server. I don't understand why my Toppy doesn't have it.

[FireBird]

Then I guess the only way is to connect the disk to a PC or laptop and try TFTool.

[Anie]

@FireBird
Disappointing, but I suppose I must do that.

Somebody said that copying the files takes a lot of time. Can anyone give me an estimate of how long? Over ten hours, or over 20 hours? My Toppy was probably 90% full already. I'd like to know what to expect.

[FireBird]

90% of what? But at the end, it doesn’t matter because the speed also depends on the connection type (faster SATA or slower USB), the speed of the PC and how fast it can copy the data to its disk. As I’ve never used TFTool, I do not know if it is able to move files from one directory to another (lost+found to DataFiles).

[Anie]

Sorry that I was unclear. I meant that I had used at least 90% of the PVR's space for my recordings.

But yes, I understand that the speed depends on the computer. Thank you.

[Alter Sack]

As I’ve never used TFTool, I do not know if it is able to move files from one directory to another (lost+found to DataFiles).

As far as I know TFTool is not able to move files on the USB-connected hard drive under windows, it's write protected.

[Anie]

As I’ve never used TFTool, I do not know if it is able to move files from one directory to another (lost+found to DataFiles).

As far as I know TFTool is not able to move files on the USB-connected hard drive under windows, it's write protected.

Could you please explain how does it work then. Do I move the files to an external hard drive and watch then on PC or what should I do?

[Alter Sack]

Could you please explain how does it work then.

You can copy the files whereever you want, to a 2nd external drive, to your PC or directly to another Toppy connected by network.

But you can not move the files on the "bad" hard drive under windows, this is only possible if you have access via network to your Toppy and the internal hard drive.

[DeltaMikeCharlie]

I just had a look in the manual (I should have done this earlier) and the network port is not for FTP, it is for 'entertainment' such as YouTube, Flickr and SHOUTcast.

http://kauppa.webhill.fi/attachments/pr ... ebhill.pdf

Based on the level of technical knowledge that you have indicated previously, perhaps you should seek assistance from a professional who specialises in PC or PVR repair.

When you talk to them, show them all of your forum postings and our responses and ensure that they understand the following:

1) The drive uses a Linux format called JFS.
2) MS Windows can not read the drive. This is normal, not a problem.
3) DO NOT FORMAT the drive just because MS Windows can't read it.
4) If they are using a MS Windows PC, they can try a tool like TFtool or 'System Rescue CD' to read the data from the PVR drive and save it to another drive.

If they won't listen to you or say that they know better, take your equipment from them and go elsewhere.

If I were doing this recovery, I'd do the following steps:

1) Determine the size (data capacity) of the existing drive.
2) Remove the existing drive from the PVR.
3) Buy a new AV (audio/visual) quality drive of the same size for the PVR and install it. It is OK to let the PVR format this new drive. Installing a new drive will preserve the old drive and hopefully allow you to recover your data but also try to prevent this from happening again because the old drive could be becoming faulty.
4) Buy an external USB drive that is big enough to hold the data capacity of the PVR drive.
5) Without knowing the exact problem with the existing drive, the rest is a bit of guesswork
6) Use TFtool and/or 'System Rescue CD' to try to repair the drive's data format and/or copy the data to the external USB drive. This could be straight forward or complicated depending on the fault. I would try TFtool first because it is designed to deal with faults in Topfield hard drives. 'System Rescue CD' is a more generic tool and needs Linux command line skills to operate.
7) Once the data has been copied to the external USB drive, put the original PVR drive somewhere safe for now.
8) It is possible, perhaps even probable, that the file names of the recordings will be changed and/or in another location on the drive. As jkIT said the largest files will be your recordings and the smaller files will be extra files that the PVR uses for internal purposes.
9) Try to rename one or two of the largest files to be as jkIT suggests and try to play them on your PC using VLC or another video player. VLC can play a large variety of formats, so it will give you the best chance of success.
10) You will have to play each file, skipping through the content until you are able to identify the programme and then give the file its proper name.
11) I don't know much about the next part, but: If your recordings were encrypted by your Cable TV provider, you will have to find a way to decrypt them. I don't know how, sorry.
12) Archive the files as you please.

[Anie]

@DeltaMikeCharlie
Thank you for a thorough explanation!

Indeed I have those options (YouTube, Flicker etc) on my PVR

The guy I talked to last week (PC repair shop) seemed very willing to give it a go and didn't sound like someone who wouldn't accept advice from others. I told them I'll look into this myself first and I would give him any information I could find online. I suppose if he opens the box and runs FTTools, I can copy the files on my own.

Sadly FileZilla didn't work but I still harbour some hope. Even if I can save just a handful of recordings, that would be great.

I really don't know how to properly thank everyone here and the oztoppy forum. You've dedicated so much time trying to help, without me being able to pay anything in return. You are all good people.

[Alter Sack]

If you connect the Toppy hard drive to your PC by an USB adapter you only need to start TFTool,
then you can copy the important (large) files from "lost&found" to your PC or a backup drive or ...

TFTool.jpg

[Anie]

1) The drive uses a Linux format called JFS.
2) MS Windows can not read the drive. This is normal, not a problem.
3) DO NOT FORMAT the drive just because MS Windows can't read it.
4) If they are using a MS Windows PC, they can try a tool like TFtool or 'System Rescue CD' to read the data from the PVR drive and save it to another drive.

Just to be sure (although I don't wish to complicate things more), since you say "if they are using MS Windows PC..."

Is there another kind that is also possible or better?

[keith_leitch]

Then I guess the only way is to connect the disk to a PC or laptop and try TFTool.

I am trying to remember if Telnet is an option. I think one has to first run a Telnet server as a TAP, which seems to be impossible here.

[keith_leitch]

As far as I know TFTool is not able to move files on the USB-connected hard drive under windows, it's write protected.

Yes, I can confirm this. TFTool helped me copy FROM the Topfield drive, but not TO it. I suspect that Anie's drive is failing, anyway, so getting the data off of it would be the best strategy.

[keith_leitch]

If they won't listen to you or say that they know better, take your equipment from them and go elsewhere.

This is critical, and the reason I disagree about taking it to a shop. Most service technicians in most shops (with exceptions, of course) want to work very quickly with familiar equipment. I would be afraid that they will do what is "normally" correct for most drives taken out of a PC or a Mac, but incorrect for this drive.

Having said that, if you do not have a trusted friend or family member to help you, DMC's impressively detailed advice is very good; many of us in the community would be lost without him, so put your trust in what he says. Just make sure you are very, very clear about your needs with any service technician you choose to involve.

I believe that Firebird was asking earlier about the size of your hard drive, and DMC has reiterated that question. If you don't know, then it should be written on the drive label when the unit comes apart.

I'm sorry to ask this, but I have to wonder: are the movies you have lost really worth all this stress to yourself? Don't get me wrong; I know how you feel about losing data. It is a painful experience.

[keith_leitch]

Just to be sure (although I don't wish to complicate things more), since you say "if they are using MS Windows PC..."

Is there another kind that is also possible or better?

I think he just meant to clarify that TFTools will only run on a Windows PC.